Introduction:
Trolling inline blades isn't a new concept, in fact the technique has been
successfully used anglers
targeting multiple species for decades. Panther Martin brings trolling to the
next level by combining their popular holographic blades with their proven Vivif
swimbait. The "Mark Drag" combination is a very attractive new trolling combo
that can be used in both fresh and saltwater.

Panther
Martin Mark Drag
Specifications

Class

Trolling

Blades

4

Colors/Patterns

2
available

Wire
Length

30
inches + 8.5 inches to lure

Lure Sizes

1 oz and 2.5 oz

MSRP

$7.99, $9.99

The Mark Drag, a new trolling rig
that sports Panther Martin's classic blades

Impressions: The Panther Martin Mark Drag is a brand new addition to
their ever-growing series of lures. The Mark Drag consists of four classic Panther Martin
blades sporting holographic patterns. The blades are held inline via a 30 inch coated wire
which is rated at 22 pound test. At each end of the wire there are rugged snap swivels
that will provide easy and quick changes when needed. In addition to the
inline trolling blades, the Mark Drag comes with Panther Martin's deadly Vivif swimbait that we reviewed at
the beginning of last year. To put some distance between the last blade and the
Vivif, an additional 8.5 inches of wire, in conjunction with another snap
swivel, connects the inline blades to the swimbait.

Complete Rig
for Mark Drag Tests

Downrigger

Scotty Electric Propack 1116

Rod

Daiwa Southern California Special

Reel

Penn
320GTi

Line

30
lb. Stren High Impact

Field Tests: The Mark Drag is a very versatile rig to run. It can be fished
for many species of fish including blue fish, salmon, trout, halibut, stripers,
albacore, pike, and much more. To test this new Panther Martin trolling combo we
put it up against striped bass, salmon, trout, and halibut in the Pacific.

The attractive blades are great
for salmon trolling

Performance: With the assistance from our handy Scotty downrigger we
put the Mark Drag to the test. As we began to lower the downrigger we noticed the
blades immediately started to spin and the Vivif came to life with superb tail
kicking action. The optimal trolling speed determined during our tests was right
around 3 mph,
which is
well within the recommended range described by Panther Martin of 2 to 4 mph.

The Panther Martin holographic
blades are very eye-catching especially when light reflects off of them, notice the beads that are in place to help
the rig maintain a smooth rotation, and they are also an added attractant.

For most of the fishing we used the complete Mark
Drag rig which includes the Panther Martin Vivif swimbait. The results were
outstanding. By using a Garmin fishfinder we matched our trolling depth to the
bait, and were able to pick up fish. No fish can ignore
an easy meal, and the Mark Drag blades and swimbait combination seemed to do a good job at
mimicking a small school of bait. With species such as halibut, where the
fish won't swim a great distance to take its prey, the spinning and thumping
blades do catch their attention and rigs trolled at the same depth with the Mark
Drag had a 30% higher strike ratio than our normal rig with the same swimbait.

Changing out
baits is easy with the secure clip, you can even run live-bait if you choose

Even though the Mark Drag comes with a Vivif, you do
have a choice not to use it. Detaching the swimbait is quick via a snap swivel,
and attaching your own choice of lure is just as easy. For example when we fish
the Salmon opener we chose to apply the attractive blades but attached a
purple haze Hootchie to the rig instead. The blades did the job at luring the salmon to come
closer to take our lure. While about 80 percent of the anglers that day got
skunked, we have to thank the Mark Drag for our two successfully landed salmon.

The performance of the new Panther Martin Mark
Drag is splendid, but there was one thing that can be improved on this rig. A
snap swivel is used to connect the short 8 inch wire to the lure directly. This large swivel is
brawny and required for larger species, but it's a bit too large for undersized
lures or with fish that have superior vision and spook easily. A change in this part of the
combination will surely improve the realistic appeal and action of the Vivif
lure.

Rugged components are used
throughout the Mark Drag

Durability: The Panther Martin Mark Drag combo held up nicely
throughout our tests. The wire, blades, and swivels were all quality components
and requires a quick rinse after each use to keep them as good as new.
The swimbait withstood the offshore conditions as we expected because it's the exact same Vivif
we tested in the past. We are pleased to see that this trolling rig was
able to deal with such a wide variety of species without suffering any damage
from the fish or austere saltwater conditions.

Anytime you troll, this combo can
be used to increase your chances at landing more fish. These two Halibut fell victim to the Mark Drag as we bounced the Vivif swimbait on the sandy bottom

Application: The Mark Drag is a deadly combination when trolled. It can be
used for all types of trolling applications when targeting a wide range of
freshwater and saltwater game fish. Though not strong enough for large hard
hitting tuna, the
Mark Drag can be used for species ranging from immense East Coast stripers to
whopping Pacific Halibut.

Ratings:

Panther
Martin Mark Drag
Ratings (?/10)

Construction/Quality

The
overall construction is good with durable non-corrosive components. The
Vivif will also withstand many strikes before it requires changing

8.5

Performance

Great performance with smooth spinning blades and tail whipping action on
the swimbait

8.5

Price

If
you look at what's out there, the Mark Drag is actually not expensive and it
comes with a swimbait. The price falls between low to mid price range

8

Features

This trolling combo features a tempting swimbait that we reviewed in the
past and four attractive holographic blades that does a great job at luring
fish

8

Design
(Ergonomics)

The
design stuck with what Panther Martin is known for, their popular spinners.
The snap swivel that attaches directly onto the Vivif can be changed but the
overall rig is nicely designed

8

Application

This trolling combination can be used in fresh and saltwater, and it can be
trolled at all depths to target a wide range to fish

8.5

Total Score

8.25

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus
Minus

J
Flashy spinning blades

L
Large visible snap swivel connects the
wire to lure and can affect action on smaller baits

J
Good overall construction

J
Applicable for multi-species

Conclusion: Trolling is an effective way to target many types
of quality fish and the right gear can step up the performance of any lure. Tools like a downrigger will get you
into the target zone, but you'll still need to use more to increase your odds at
catching fish. The Panther Martin Mark Drag is a great addition to your trolling
gear, and it will increase your
catch rate. The revolving Panther Martin holographic blades have been used in
everything from delicate spinners to full size trolling lines and provides both a
visual and audible signal to fish afar, attracting them close enough for
them to willingly target the trailing Vivif or bait. The complete trolling rig
delivered excellent
performance and proved quite durable in our tests. If you enjoy trolling for
fish, then we recommend taking a look at Panther Martin's new Mark Drag, and add
that extra bit of enticement to your conventional rigs.